For my 06 MCS there seems to be replacement key covers on Ebay.
Does anyone have any experience with these???
Any good?
My key cover is pretty well worn and the center logo has fallen off both keys.
Thanks!

 

I work on the '02-'04 clamshell style keys, so I haven't worked on your style key (the three button keys). Remember to swap both the circuit board and EWS transponder. I haven't seen a three button key case that does not also have a blade as part of it, so you might have to get the blade cut if there is no way to get the blank blade out without destroying the key. The clamshell style keys have the blade held in with a pin and so it's easy to put the old blade back into the new case.

I'd be willing to try this for you if you don't feel comfortable transplanting your key components into the new case.

Val

 

Val,
Thanks for the kind offer but am confident that I'd be able to do the swap myself.
I was just hoping that someone on the forum would have experience with the aftermarket key covers and could comment on quality and if it's worth it to buy one of them.

 

Rennwerkes: Take my advice - let Valvashon do it.

 

Rennwerkes: Take my advice- let one of these guys do it:

http://www.bmwgm5.com/Key_Repair.htm

Check out the "Wall of Shame" on the above site to see what can go wrong when you pry open a sonically welded key yourself.

There's also this one:

http://bmwkey.com/

The BMW three button keys these two work on are very similar to the MINI three button key- the board inside is probably the same; I'm guessing it's just the case that's different. Let us know if they will work on a MINI key.

Val

 

Why on earth would someone want to "sonically weld" the key together???
I've never seen any problem with older Mercedes/BMW/Porsche keys that you could pry apart,then snap back together.
Appreciate the advice.

 

I bought one, the original metal part was slightly smaller than the blank the replacement came with, so it moves a little. Other than that, it ok, but that's for an 03 mini 2 button

 

I think the OP is talking about item # 330822352964 - an uncut key blank+empty casing for the 3-button remote where you'd have to transfer the internal circuit board and the transponder chip from the old remote, then have the key cut by a locksmith or the dealer. I don't think you can swap out the key from the old remote.

 

If you got it on eBay it was probably an "inexpensive" Chinese knockoff. I bought a bunch wholesale to do key repair for others, and I have found that the metal part is the same size, it's the rectangular hole in the key that is a bit bigger than either blank. My dirty little secret is a thin film of JB Weld to take up the extra space and hold the original key blade in place. After 24 hours it's rock solid.

Val